Say hello to Cheggy, the first non-invasive in-ovo technology of its kind to determine the sex of a chick before hatching. In a groundbreaking development for the United States egg industry, an Iowa hatchery has become the first site to offer an automated in-ovo sex determining solution in the nation. An identical machine is also operational at a hatchery in …
Helene Causes Extensive Damage in Southeast
Agricultural damage from Hurricane Helene is being evaluated this week around the southeast. At a press conference Sunday, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said they expect the damage toll to be worse than Hurricane Michael in 2018. “We know we have 107 poultry facilities damaged or totally destroyed, 15 dairies that have been affected and dozens and dozens of other facilities,” …
USDA Awards More Processing Plant Grants
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced Thursday more than $35 million in grants to 15 independent meat processors in 12 states to increase processing capacity, the final installment in the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP) launched in 2022. Over $325 million total investment in 74 independent meat and poultry processing projects have been awarded. Joining Sec. Vilsack in making …
Alltech Releases 2024 Agri-Food Outlook
Global animal feed production remained steady in 2023 at 1.29 billion metric tons (BMT), a slight decrease from 2022, according to the Alltech 2024 Agri-Food Outlook annual survey, now in its 13th year, which includes data from 142 countries and more than 27,000 feed mills. The overall lower demand for feed was due, in part, to the more efficient use …
Thanksgiving Meal Costs Less Than Last Year
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 38th annual survey says the average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving feast is $61.17. That’s less than $6.20 per person, down 4.5 percent from last year’s record high prices. The survey accounts for the cost of a meal for 10 people including turkey, stuffing mix, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, peas, dinner rolls, sweet …
Alltech Releases 2023 Agri-Food Outlook
Alltech released its 2023 Alltech Agri-Food Outlook today, showing global feed production remained steady in 2022 at 1.266 billion metric tons, a decrease of less than one-half of one percent (0.42%) from 2021. The annual survey, now in its 12th year, includes data from 142 countries and more than 28,000 feed mills. Europe bore the brunt of the impact, including …
House to Vote on Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote Thursday on the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act led by Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), a package of legislation designed to address supply chain issues for the American energy and agriculture sectors, combat rising fertilizer prices and increase the availability of higher ethanol blends and other biofuels. The legislation includes Spanberger’s …
ZeaKal and Perdue Agribusiness Work for Sustainable Poultry
Perdue AgriBusiness and ZeaKal have announced a multi-year development agreement to raise more sustainable poultry through improved soy genetics and feed quality. ZeaKal’s PhotoSeed® trait technology increases photosynthetic capacity, converting more carbon dioxide and sunlight into energy for the plant. In soybeans, this has consistently resulted in improved oil and protein content while improving the sustainability index of the crop. …
Partnership Acquires Willamette Egg Farms
Breaking news in the egg industry today. Northwest Farms and Proterra Investment Partners (Proterra) has acquired the operations and assets of Willamette Egg Farms (Willamette) in the Pacific Northwest from Michael Foods, Inc., a subsidiary of Post Holdings. Northwest Farms is a newly formed company that includes several egg farming families who also are owners in Versova Management (Versova). Versova, …
USDA Announces Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program
USDA’s Farm Service Agency will begin taking applications for the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP) starting next Tuesday, July 20th Livestock and poultry producers who suffered losses during the pandemic due to insufficient access to processing can apply for assistance for those losses and the cost of depopulation and disposal of the animals from July 20 through Sept. 17, 2021. …